The inaugural 2019 Start Me Up Innovation Awards will give a platform to new products, services systems or concepts from global start-up businesses with the potential to have a significant, game-changing impact on the commercial foodservice, beverage and laundry industry.
“These awards represent what FCSI stands for and truly believes in: that innovation is the lifeblood of the foodservice industry,” said Nick Vaccaro, executive administrator of FCSI Worldwide.
“We look forward to seeing some great entries from a host of exciting start-up companies.”
The awards, launched on Thursday 16 May, are open to any independent, start-up business that has launched a new product or concept for the sector since 1 January 2018. It is free of charge to enter and the final date of entry for the awards is 1 September 2019.
A panel of FCSI Professional Members and executives from Electrolux Professional will judge the award entries prior to HostMilano 2019. The judges will then decide from a shortlist of entrants based on how innovative and impactful they believe the entries could be for the industry.
The shortlisted products or concepts selected for the final stage will have the chance to make a Dragons’ Den-style ‘pitch’ to the judging panel in person at an event at the FCSI booth on Sunday 20 October at the HostMilano 2019 show in Milan, Italy.
Representatives from each start-up business will get 10 minutes to demonstrate to judges why their entry is worthy of first place. The winner will be announced at the FCSI show party later that evening.
For more information on the awards and how to enter, visit www.fcsi.org/startmeup <http://www.fcsi.org/startmeup> .